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About the designer

I am a published sewing and quilting author with several books and many magazine articles to my credit. My most recent book, How to Make a Quilt was published in August 2014 by Storey Publishing. ...

I am a published sewing and quilting author with several books and many magazine articles to my credit. My most recent book, How to Make a Quilt was published in August 2014 by Storey Publishing. I've written two other successful books for them-- The Quilting Answer Book and The Sewing Answer Book. I learned to sew from my great grandmother, two grandmothers, and my Mom when I was barely in grade school and I've been sewing ever since. I added quilting to my repertoire in the 1980s and worked for a major quilt book publisher as Managing Editor and then Editor-in-Chief for 5 years. Now I have my own business, designing quilts and tote bags and anything else that strikes my fancy. Go to www.joyofsewingandquilting.blogspot.com to see my projects and whatever else I'm up to. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you find something you'd like to make in my Craftsy store!

The Quilted Traveler's Tote Bag

Basic Skills Necessary:

Basic sewing skills

Pattern Description:

The Quilted Traveler's ToteHere's the perfect carry-on bag and a great tote to load with supplies for quilting and sewing classes! Use double-sided quilted fabric that you make from your favorite fabrics, following the panel-by-panel quilting directions. Of course, if you find the perfect double-sided, already-quilted fabric (directions included), you can use that instead and your tote will stitch up even faster.

Pattern correction made on 9.30.14.

Tote features include: Zip-top panel that opens and drops down inside or expands when zipped

Directions for using already-quilted fabric if you don't want to quilt your own

Carla, I am sad you are unhappy with my pattern, but I am also very upset that you did not contact me directly before posting such a negative comment. All designers want their customers to be happy and successful with their patterns, and I bend over backwards to help customers with questions. My email address is clearly stated on most pages of each pattern and it would have been nice to hear from you before you posted something that could affect my livlihood. I have sold well over a thousand of this pattern in the six years it has been out and I have never had a negative comment about the directions. In fact, many customers have told me how thorough the directions are and have sent me photos of their beautiful tote bags. The illustrations were done by a professional illustrator who has worked on many of my patterns and my books. Not all patterns have color photos...and there is no need to show the inside of the bag as there is only a pocket inside that hangs from the upper edge. It is clearly illustrated. I do agree that I should have indicated that the bag is not for one-way fabric designs, but the only piece that wouldn't work is the bottom panel and very little of it shows. Every other piece is easily turned to the correct direction during the sewing process. Based on this comment only, I will reword the directions to indicate that one-way fabrics are not suitable and I will repost a revised pattern on Craftsy when I return from my vacation next week.

Barbara, you know that I did contact you, however it took you ten days to get back to me after that, so please don't say I didn't contact you when you know that's just not true, I have your dated emails to prove that. You told me you were on vacation and would be back home that weekend and would look at it and get back to me. I didn't hear from you again for about ten days.

My review of your pattern is just that, a review of your PATTERN (which I am entitled to give) to let others know the problems I had with the pattern. It is certainly NOT a review of YOU personally, as I do not know you personally. It is quite evident that you have taken my review personally and/or do not take criticism well. I do hope you will re-read my review and see that it's about the bag and not you as a person. I'm sure you are a very nice person, but I want others to know and to be aware of the issues I've had with this pattern which is what a review is all about.

Carla, I replied the Monday morning AFTER the night I returned. You must have misunderstood my expected day of return. No, I didn't know that you were the same person, because you didn't say so in the emails you've sent this week. I thought you were someone entirely different and hadn't even seen this comment when I replied to your second email. It finally dawned on that you were the same person as the emails when I read the last one and then checked back here.

You did find two items that required addressing--the lack of info on one-way fabrics and an error in the zipper tab directions. I do appreciate your pointing them out to me.

I fixed the pattern immediately and reposted to Craftsy so that all others who use the pattern have a corrected version. I'm sorry it was you who had to struggle.

I always respond to customers questions ASAP and I did not take your review personally. It matters to me that my customers can understand my patterns.

However, as you state in your review below, photos of bag interiors that don't require it, color photos in place of professionally done illustrations, and the cutting method that you criticized in one of your emails are all the prerogative of the designer. I

Other customers can attest that I do everything I can to help them. I have been in contact with another customer this week and she has had no trouble following the directions and using the illustrations that you have so roundly criticized.

There is a problem with emails in general, as there is no tone of voice, other than the way in which words are strung together.

I am very happy to hear that you've corrected some of the issues with your pattern. It's just not right to sell patterns when there is so much wrong with them. I stand by my original review of this pattern.

I admin 3 very large sewing and quilting groups on social media and we often post photos and reviews of patterns we are working on letting everyone know how it went and if we would recommend said pattern and I honestly cannot recommend this pattern to any of the approx. 92,000 total members we have. I always give an honest review of the patterns I do and I am unable to recommend this one. Like I said earlier, I think it's an awesome looking bag, it's just too bad the technical writing of the instructions and the photos are not as awesome. Luckily, I was able to figure out the pattern on my own, and was able to use the directional fabric I bought for it.

I'm certainly glad you were so helpful to your other customers, but I can't say that was my experience with you at all. Good luck to you.

BEWARE!!!!I just purchased this pattern to make a tote for an upcoming trip. I am an experienced sewist who has made many bags, garments, crafts, etc. This is the most poorly written pattern I've come across in a long time! There are no picture illustrations, only drawn black and white ones which are far from clear. There is no photo of the inside of the bag, nor is there a photo of the backside of the bag for one to refer to. The instructions are extremely confusing and do not include instructions for using one way directional fabrics. I am so sick to my stomach! I went and purchased everything I needed to make this bag and now it's all going to go to waste unless I am able to find a properly written pattern. I am so sorry I bought this pattern!

Carla, I am sad you are unhappy with my pattern, but I am also VERY upset that you did not contact me directly before posting such a negative comment. All designers want their customers to be happy and successful with their patterns, and I bend over backwards to help customers with questions. My email address is clearly stated on most pages of each pattern and it would have been nice to hear from you before you posted something that could affect my livlihood. I have sold well over a thousand of this pattern in the six years it has been out and I have never had a negative comment about the directions. In fact, many customers have told me how thorough the directions are and have sent me photos of their beautiful tote bags. The illustrations were done by a professional illustrator who has worked on many of my patterns and my books. Not all patterns have color photos...and there is no need to show the inside of the bag as there is only a pocket inside that hangs from the upper edge. It is clearly illustrated. I do agree that I should have indicated that the bag is not for one-way fabric designs, but the only piece that wouldn't work is the bottom panel and very little of it shows. Every other piece is easily turned to the correct direction during the sewing process. Based on this comment only, I will reword the directions to indicate that one-way fabrics are not suitable and I will repost a revised pattern on Craftsy when I return from my vacation next week.

Why and when did the price increase? Since it's just a download, I can't see why it would cost more to produce it. I was about to order it, until I saw the price increased from $8.50 (had in my wishlist for a while) to $10.87 when I put it in my shopping cart. I could understand the cost if it was a pattern that was copied and packaged.

The price is still $8.50. I don't know why it's coming up as $10.87. You will have to contact help@craftsy.com to see if they can answer your question. I have no control over their website and it was probably a glitch. They are always very helpful. Hope you get this resolved. Barbara